Goole's capital gains

The top rate of income tax was reduced to 60% at the start of the Thatcher government and remained there for nine of the 11 years she was in power. If, as Polly Toynbee reports (Comment, 25 September), David Laws is uncomfortable "as a liberal" with a rate even as high as 50%, in an economic crisis caused by his former colleagues in the City and their foreign counterparts, doesn't that say it all about the closeness of the Liberal Orange Book faction to ideological Tories?Christopher ClaytonWaverton, Cheshire

• If we remain silent while our government supports US agents killing families from thousands of miles away and calling their victims "bugsplat" (Our terror campaign, 25 September) then hypocrisy finally rules. Clive Stafford Smith reminds us of the fear generated by doodlebugs. But surely we don't need this to recognise that having deadly drones hovering 24 hours a day over Pakistan is totally unacceptable. Imagine our outrage if another country was threatening us and killing our children in this obscene way.Richard StaintonWhitstable, kent

• Your obituary of Harry Pilling (25 September) refers to a mid-pitch meeting of the diminutive Lancastrian and the giant West Indian Clive Lloyd. A TV commentator identified these two players standing together: "Pilling's the one in the cap."William JonesPrescot, Merseyside

• You must have lost touch with your Manchester roots as Goole's importance is shown in the wonderful decor at the front of Manchester Victoria station (Letters, 26 September). Goole is among the capital cities of Europe displayed around the canopy at the front of the station.David RuddlesdenBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire